ECHO, Unicef join hands to protect children, women

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and Unicef have teamed up to provide more protection for nearly 42,000 children, adolescents and young women in Cox's Bazar.

The ECHO has provided US $2.6 million to Unicef to ensure that children, adolescents and young women can live in a safe and protective environment free from Gender Based Violence (GBV) and with better access to social services.

The measures will benefit 41,500 children and adolescents living in Rohingya camps as well as local Bangladeshis, known as the host community, according to a Unicef press release yesterday.

More than 693,000 refugees from Myanmar have arrived in Cox's Bazar since August 2017 -- more than half of them (an estimated 58 percent) are children.

The Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar, particularly children, adolescent girls and young women, are highly vulnerable. They face significant risks in addition to disease outbreaks. The host community has also been under pressure since the arrival of refugees.

“Many of the refugees who have fled from Myanmar have experienced violence and traumatic events,” said Edouard Beigbeder, Unicef representative in Bangladesh. “This initiative will allow us to protect the most vulnerable…”

Some of the problems encountered in the camps by children, adolescents and young women are not uncommon in the host community.

Unicef is providing more than 1.82 lakh children and adolescents with critical child protection services.

“With Child friendly Spaces (CFS) and adolescent group activities, Unicef is providing a range of confidential services. Yet there is a huge gap to bridge. So, we have joined forces,” said Suranga Mallawa, ECHO expert in Cox's Bazar.

The initiative will also feature the provision of alternative care services to 37,000 children and adolescents through CFSs, adolescent clubs and outreach services by social workers.

Another 2,000 adolescent girls and young women will benefit from the establishment of 35 safe space areas for women.

Outreach activities will ensure that 2,000 adolescent girls and young women will be supported by women's support groups for the prevention of gender-based violence.

A further 500 of them will also receive help and advice in responding to and dealing with such violence.